The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said there is a possibility of restricting the interzonal travels even for fully vaccinated individuals due to the threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
In today’s (July 20) Laging Handa public briefing, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said the restrictions regarding the interzonal travel might be reimposed to limit the interactions of the public and prevent further spread of the virus.
However, a meeting with the local government units (LGUs) and the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will be conducted before making their decisions.
“Medyo sigurado po na magkakaroon ng higpitan ngayon base po ito sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo kagabi pero bago natin gawin ito, magkakaroon tayo ng pagpupulong sa ating mga local na opisyales lalo na sa NCR pati sa mga naapektuhang highly urbanized cities,” he said.
Densing added that a bubble-type set up within the NCR Plus might again be implemented since it will greatly help in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. He said, although the Delta variant cases are not yet considered as an outbreak, the authorities must be prepared so that the health care system of the country will not be overwhelmed in case the situation gets worse.
However, the DILG assured that they will strengthen the granular lockdowns instead of implementing a lockdown of a province or a city so that the economy will continue to develop.
“Ang pag-iigtingin po natin ay pag-la-lockdown ng mga maliliit na kalye, mga barangay, o ‘yung tinatawag nating granular lockdown. Ito pa rin ang ating ipatutupad kasama na rin po rito yung pagbabalanse ng ating ekonomiya.”
Report from Kenneth Paciente/NGS-rir